Vehicle-top.



A. H. LIGHTER.

VEHICLE TOP.

, APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1914.

Patented Aug. 3; 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

WITNESSES l MENTOR W U %WW ATTOR/VHG? A. H. LIGHTER.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10. 1914.

Patented Au 3, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES A TTORNEYS firs ADOL'PH HARRY LIGHTER, OF SPRINGFIELD,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSTGNOR T0 STEVENS- DURYEA COMPANY, OF CHTCOZPEE FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

VEHICLE-TOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented'Aug. 3, 1915.

Application filed March 10, 1914. Serial No.'823,646.

terial and folded tightly together in a limited space and carried by'the top itself. This invention relates to improvements for carrying the folded type of'curtam and relates particularly to means for securing view, partly in section,

folded with the curtain in place.-

and storing the curtain. 7

One of the objects ofi'the invention is to provide a'storag receptacle for the S] de curtains that will not use or limit any space desired for the occupants that will be placed so that it will be entirely concealed from view, either from within or from without the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to suspend the storage receptacle in the top between the outer ortion or cover and the inner portion bearing upon the lining and in such manner that the top may be way without removing the curtains.

Variousother objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious, and still others will be more fully set, forth in the following description of the particular embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly'in section, of a vehicle top showing the curtain in its open position. Fig. 2 is a detail sideview partly in section showing the curtain folded in place in the top. Fig. 3 is a side showing the top Fig. 4

represents a cross-section of the top showing the curtain in place and means for securing same. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the curtain in its partly'folded position. Fig. 6 isa detail view showing the curtain in its folded position. I 1

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the top comprises a plurality of rigid.

bows 1 which support an outer cover 2 and an inner lining 3. The bows are spaced 1n their opened positions by flexible tension some other separate reof the vehicle and or lning without pressure or.

folded back in the usual in any straps or members 4 usually secured to the bows immediately below the cover. The cover and lining each have a central or horizontal portion and the depending approximately vertical side portions 2 and 3 respectively in the usual manner.

Arranged between the cover and lining at the front and back of the top are the storage recepta l s 5 of suitable strong material. Each receptacle may contain two curtains or a separate receptacle may be provided for each" curtain, as desired. Each receptacle is supported by means of straps or a continuous web of strong material 6 fixed to two of the bows so that the receptacle will be held out of contact with the inner lining. If desired, the receptacle may also be secured to the tension straps l which hold it The curtain 8 is formedof flexible matey rial and preferably is provided at spaced intervalswith inserts of celluloid, mica or other material 9 that is somewhat flexible.

The curtain is secured to the receptacle by means of a strap, cord or other flexible connection 10 attached nearthe corner of the curtain and fastened to the receptacle, as at 11, intermediate the ends thereof. The strap or other connection is of proper length to support the rear end of the curtain in position to be readily attached to the top and to the vehicle body for use and is also of the proper length to form a stop for the curtain when it is stored in the receptacle andthus determine its position therein. While in use, the curtain is secured to the body of the vehicle and to the lower edge of the lining suitable manner as the snaps or buttons 12. If desired, the lower ends of the receptacle maybe provided with some suitable reinforcement 13, was to hold the same in a slightly flaring position. After the curtain has been inserted, the opening is closed by any suitable means, as the flap 14.

The two parts of the curtain on each side of the vehicle may be secured together by any suitable means as the snaps or buttons 12 forming a continuous side wall. ,When released fromits fastenings, each portionof the curtain is folded upon itself in a compact mass comprising layers or leaves approximately perpendicular to the line of'the curtain which is turned or twisted sidewise and then slipped endwise into the receptacle,

of the receptacle so that the front half of each curtain is carried in the front receptacle and the rear half of each curtain is car 1 ried in the rear receptacle. I When the cur- .tain is in place the flaps 14 are'buttoned or' otherwise secured, which prevents the .cur-

. tain from slipping out'in case it isfaccidentally dislodged by movement of the vehicle. Owing to the factv that practically all of each curtain except perhaps the lower and flexible end thereof below the inserts is in a horizontal position, it is possible to fold the top in the. usual manner without remov- I slightly wider than the distance between the.

ing the curtains from their receptacles. By

means ofthis construction, the curtains are I entirely concealed in a space not" otherwise available for use and do not limit in any way the capacity of the vehicle. v

The supporting web which may be of specially prepared cloth or webbing is adjacent bows so that it sags between the same forming a pocket above the lining and below the cover. The entire weight of the receptacle and inclosed curtains is transmitted directly to the tops of the bows where the web is preferably attached adjacent the cover and consequently, neither the cover or the lining is wrinkled or distorted in any manner. The-flexible character of the web .and the location of the receptacle in the sagging portion thereof intermediate the bows permits the top to be lowered with- ,out removing the curtain or without bending the celluloid, mica or other insert therein and the curtain always maintains'a trim and neat appearance; While I have shown and described, and have pointed out in the annexed claims, certain novel features of my invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made-by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the combination of a top comprising acover and'lining and. a plurality of bows between said cover and lining, tension straps between the bows, a supporting web swung from the tops of adjacent bows and sagging in the space between the bows above the lining, and a curtain receptacle mounted between said web and the tension straps and supported by said web out of contact with the lining.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a top comprising a cover and lining and a plurality of bows between said cover and lining, of a supporting member secured to the tops of the bows adjacent the cover and sagging between same toward the lining, and a curtain receptacle arranged parallelto the bows and supported by the web below the cover andabove the lining. b r or 4:; In a device of the character described, the combination with a top comprising a cover and lining and a plurality of bows between said cover andlining for said bows, of a receptacle between the lining andIthe cover andsupporting means for said 'receptacle secured to the bows and holding the receptacle out of contact with the lining.

5, Ina device of the character described, the combination with a vehicle top comprising a plurality of bows, a cover and a lining for said bows, and a receptaclesupported between the cover and lining and concealed thereby, of a curtain adapted to; be folded, and flexible holding means for the curtain permitting the same to be turned after ,being folded and to be slippedendwiserinto thereceptacle. l p I i 6. A vehicle top comprising a plurality of rigid bows, a cover and lining for said bows, a receptacle supported from the bows be' tween the cover and lining, a curtain adapted to. be folded into said receptacle, and means to support a portionof the curtain in position for ready attachment to the vehicle, saidmeansbeing folded into the receptacle with the curtain.v '7 j a 7. The combination with a vehicle top comprising a plurality of rigid bows and a cover and lining for-said bows, of a storage receptacle supported directly by the bows between the cover and lining, a curtain adapted to be folded into. said receptacle, 7 and means for permanently securing the curtain to the receptacle, said securing means being attached to the receptacle intermediate its ends and being adapted 'to be folded in the receptacle with the curtain.

8. The combination with a vehicle top comprising rigid bows and a flexible. cover and lining therefor, of, astorage receptacle supported I 5 directly said; bows. f between the cover; and-the lining. and extending across said top, a curtainadapted 'to be folded into the-receptacle, means for limiti gta adapted to be folded and passed through the receptacle into thereof, and means 15 the vertical portion of the horizontal portion for securing the curtain to the receptacle adaptedlto be automatically 'folded within the receptacle when the curtain is inserted therein.

This specification signed and witnessed go this 26th day of February, A. D., 1914:.

ADOLPH HARRY LIGHTER.

In the presence of- J. FRANK DURYEA,. H. L. 001mm. 

